From improving the appearance of deep acne scars to smoothing the texture of fine lines and wrinkles, microneedling can rejuvenate most complexion concerns in no time. This is our most popular single service to treat the skin holistically and provide long lasting anti-aging benefits.  Read on to learn everything you need to know about receiving your first microneedling treatment at Radiance Skincare.

Our most frequent question from clients at Radiance is..."What should I do with my skin?" Our most frequent answer…"Microneedling". 

What are the benefits of microneedling?

• Microneedling helps reduce the signs of aging, improve the appearance of acne scars, and rejuvenate aging skin.
• Minimally invasive procedure performed in-office with little recovery time, generally 24 hours of redness/pinkness similar to a mild sunburn, followed by 24-48 hours of mild flaking
• Safe for all skin types, light to dark
• Effective on many body parts, including face, neck and décolletage

How often should I receive treatments?

When treating the whole skin, our top recommendation is 3 treatments of microneedling scheduled 4 weeks apart with our FDA approved SkinPen followed by regular, maintenance treatments. This may or may not include Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), which will be explained further below.

How does it work?

During the procedure, tiny needles puncture the skin creating thousands of microchannels, which stimulates your body’s natural healing process while minimizing cell damage.  This process rejuvenates, repairs and ultimately reverses the age of the cells.  Microneedling is also referred to as Collagen Induction Therapy.  Collagen is stimulated and remodeled during the healing process resulting in remodeling of scar tissue, improving the appearance of shallow fine lines, decreasing the appearance of large pores and improving tone all while keeping the overall structure of skin intact.  When the skin heals, it may appear smoother and more youthful looking. 

The healing process includes the following 3 phases:

1. Inflammation: tissue injury triggers the immune system to cleanse the wound, remove debris, increase blood flow and begin to create new skin cells.
2. Proliferation: the wounds are rebuilt with tiny, granulation cells and a new network of blood vessels develop.
3. Remodeling: wounds are replaced with new dermal tissue and blood vessels.

Which conditions can be treated and where on the body?

The SkinPen allows the practitioner to determine the depth at which the needles will penetrate the skin. Although it is primarily used as a facial treatment, microneedling is commonly used to treat the neck, décolletage, backs or front of thighs, buttocks, and abdomen.

• Pore size, skin texture, minor scarring, and crepe skin can be treated with a shallow needle depth (approx. 0.5mm)
• Fine lines and scaring may be treated with a medium needle depth (approx. 1.0 mm)
• Deep acne scarring, surgical and deeper scars, wrinkles, pore size and skin texture can be treated with the deepest needle depth (approx. 1.5mm to 2.0mm)

Microneedling in combination with PRP

First, let’s understand PRP.  Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) consists of two elements: plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that plays an important role in healing throughout the body. Platelets contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area.  Once platelets are in the area that’s being treated, they break down and release growth factors, which are compounds that help cells repair and renew. This is thought to trigger your body’s healing process. It can take several weeks for PRP injections to start working. For some conditions, particularly those affecting the skin, it may take up to 6 months to notice the full effects. 

What to except when pairing Microneedling with PRP

When combining microneedling with PRP, one can expect to have a blood draw.  The vial is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the blood components.  The PRP portion, which is often referred to as “liquid gold”, is then reinjected into the skin with the microneedling device (SkinPen) to promote a higher percentage of collagen remodeling and improved healing time.  With the addition of PRP, the results of tighter, smoother skin are generally visible at a faster rate than with microneedling alone. 

Microneedling alone or microneedling with PRP combined are both very effective treatments to stimulate cell turnover and increase collagen /elastin production — the support structure for a healthy, firm, smooth skin tone. If you are interested in what you can do to make your skin look younger, call or visit our website www.radiancekelly.com to schedule.  We offer free consultations with our skincare professionals where you can discuss your goals and the best product/service options to get you there! 

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